Türkiye’s parliament has approved a joint defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, committing the three countries to mutual assistance in case of an armed attack.
The agreement, known as the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, includes a collective defence provision requiring member states to support one another against external aggression.
The ratification was completed on Thursday, with 279 lawmakers voting in favour and 119 opposing the pact. A total of 398 members participated in the vote in the 592-seat parliament, reports Al Jazeera.
Türkiye initially signed the agreement in August and submitted it to parliament for approval last month.
According to Anadolu news agency, lawmakers passed the first article of the ratification bill on Wednesday. However, Deputy Parliament Speaker Celal Adan later adjourned the session until Thursday afternoon. Parliamentary proceedings resumed the following day, when lawmakers continued deliberations on the remaining provisions before approving the agreement.
The pact contains 16 articles, according to a document submitted to the Turkish parliament and reviewed by Reuters.
Article 1 commits the signatories to using “all necessary means” to address threats to one another’s territorial integrity. The provision can be activated if any member state comes under attack.
Article 2 outlines the assistance obligations once the collective defence mechanism is triggered.
“In the event one of the parties is subjected to an armed attack or military aggression by another country or group of countries, the parties shall immediately provide assistance to the party under attack, utilising the full range of mutual assistance measures available to them,” the article states.
The provision bears similarities to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which established NATO and stipulates that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all.
Türkiye’s participation in both NATO and the Mecca pact has raised questions among critics over whether Ankara could face competing military obligations when deciding how to deploy its armed forces.
Turkish officials have rejected these concerns, describing them as unfounded.
Beyond collective defence, the agreement seeks to strengthen cooperation among the three countries in defence production and military coordination to deter potential threats.
Its provisions include joint military training, technological development, and the sharing of logistical and intelligence resources.
The agreement, as approved by Turkish lawmakers, will remain in force for 10 years. Member countries will be able to withdraw after that period.
It also allows additional countries to join, provided existing members agree. Syria’s government has already expressed interest in becoming part of the arrangement.
However, parliamentary ratification does not automatically mean Turkish troops will be deployed to Saudi Arabia amid the ongoing Houthi attacks. Experts say any such deployment would require further legislative procedures.
Türkiye’s Defence Minister Yasar Guler said in October that the extent of Ankara’s support for Riyadh would be determined after the agreement’s ratification.
“We absolutely do not foresee entering into any conflict with the Houthis,” Turkish media quoted Guler as saying. He added that Türkiye’s potential contribution would focus on strengthening deterrence.
Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen had eased somewhat following a ceasefire in 2022. However, the Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi territory in recent months, including a series of deadly strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
The wider region also remains affected by the US-Israel war on Iran, which has further heightened cross-border tensions.
On Thursday, Saudi Arabia announced that its forces had intercepted a drone in the Medina region.
Riyadh has repeatedly accused the Houthis of targeting Mecca and Medina, Islam’s two holiest cities. The Iran-backed group has consistently denied the allegations.
